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Vice President of Finance, US

Minneapolis, Minnesota, United States

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The Vice President of Finance will lead financial operations, governance, and strategic financial planning for AVENIR GLOBAL’s US operations and affiliated agency brands. This senior leadership role is responsible for ensuring financial integrity, enabling strategic decision-making, and supporting profitable growth while maintaining strong internal controls. The role serves as a key strategic advisor to agency Managing Directors/Partners and operational leadership while ensuring alignment with corporate finance standards, reporting frameworks, and governance requirements across the global organization.

The VP of Finance will oversee financial reporting, planning and analysis, compliance, internal controls, and finance operations across US entities, while contributing to broader corporate finance initiatives including financial transformation, process standardization, and global reporting integration. The role carries responsibility for financial oversight and performance management of US agency P&L operations. This position also includes responsibility for financial governance related to employee benefit programs, including fiduciary oversight of the company’s 401(k) retirement plan, ensuring compliance with ERISA regulations and supporting annual plan audits.

KEY OBJECTIVES

Strategic Financial Leadership

  • Provide financial leadership for AVENIR GLOBAL’s US agency operations aligned with corporate strategy and group financial objectives. Support long-term growth by evaluating business performance, identifying opportunities for operational efficiency, and mitigating financial risk.
  • Serve as a trusted financial advisor to agency leadership and corporate executives regarding commercial strategy, pricing models, investments, and operational planning. Ensure transparency and accuracy in financial reporting across all areas of responsibility.

Financial Operations, Reporting & Corporate Alignment 

  • Oversee all financial operations across US agency entities, including accounting, financial planning and analysis, reporting, and financial controls. Ensure financial processes, reporting frameworks, and governance practices are aligned with AVENIR GLOBAL corporate standards.
  • Ensure timely and accurate reporting for both US leadership and corporate finance, supporting group consolidation requirements.
  • Maintain a strong financial control environment and ensure compliance with US GAAP and applicable regulatory requirements.

Finance Team Leadership

  • Lead and develop a high-performing finance team supporting multiple agency brands.
  • Establish clear responsibilities, efficient workflows, and consistent reporting standards across finance functions.
  • Promote a culture of accountability, collaboration, and continuous improvement within the finance organization.

KEY RESPONSIBILITIES

Financial Strategy & Planning

  • Develop and execute financial strategy for US agency operations aligned with AVENIR GLOBAL corporate objectives.
  • Lead the annual budgeting process and rolling quarterly forecasts for US entities.
  • Provide financial modeling and scenario analysis to support strategic initiatives including:
    • Agency growth initiatives
    • New service offerings
    • Workforce expansion
    • Cost optimization
    • Strategic investments or acquisitions
  • Evaluate capital allocation decisions and investment cases for business initiatives.
  • Support agency leadership in driving financial performance and profitability.

Financial Reporting & Analysis

  • Oversee preparation of monthly, quarterly, and annual financial statements for US entities. Ensure delivery of consolidated reporting packages including reconciliations, variance analysis, and performance commentary.
  • Analyze financial performance across agency brands to identify trends, risks, and opportunities.
  • Develop management reporting that supports business insights including:
    • Revenue performance
    • Client profitability
    • Utilization and productivity
    • Margin performance
    • Overhead management
  • Present financial performance updates to US executive leadership and corporate finance.

Business Partnership

  • Partner closely with Managing Directors/Partners, agency leadership teams, and operational leaders to support commercial decision-making.
  • Provide financial oversight and guidance for pricing strategy, client contracts, and new business proposals. Support revenue assurance initiatives to ensure accurate billing and strong cash collection practices.
  • Collaborate with operations and HR leadership on workforce planning, utilization forecasting, and compensation cost management.

Financial Control, Governance & Compliance

  • Maintain a strong internal control environment across all US financial processes.
  • Ensure compliance with US GAAP, federal and state tax requirements, and regulatory obligations.
  • Oversee annual external audits and coordinate with auditors, tax advisors, and financial institutions. Safeguard company assets and ensure adherence to financial policies and governance frameworks.
  • Support corporate internal audit and risk management initiatives where applicable.

401(k) Plan Governance and Fiduciary Oversight

  • Serve as a fiduciary representative for the company’s 401(k) retirement plan, ensuring compliance with ERISA regulations and Department of Labor requirements. Oversee administration and financial governance of the plan in collaboration with HR, plan administrators, and external advisors.
  • Coordinate and support annual 401(k) plan audits, including preparation of financial documentation and audit schedules. Ensure compliance with annual retirement plan nondiscrimination testing requirements, including ADP/ACP and highly compensated employee testing.
  • Ensure timely correction of any testing failures or compliance issues and monitor plan service providers to ensure fiduciary responsibilities are fulfilled in the best interest of plan participants. Support employee education initiatives related to retirement plan participation and compliance. Ensure accurate reporting for Form 5500 filings and related regulatory documentation.

Team Leadership & Development

  • Lead, mentor, and develop finance team members across accounting, FP&A, and finance operations.
  • Recruit and develop finance professionals to support organizational growth. Oversee performance reviews, goal setting, and professional development planning. Promote best practices in financial management and process improvement.

Systems, Process Improvements & Global Collaboration

  • Drive improvements in financial systems, automation, and reporting processes. Improve efficiency in budgeting, forecasting, month-end close, and financial reporting. Partner with corporate finance and IT on financial system implementations and upgrades. Leverage financial analytics to improve decision-making and operational visibility.
  • Participate in global finance initiatives including:
    • Finance transformation
    • System upgrades
    • Process standardization
    • Global reporting alignment

AI Adoption, Governance & Responsible Use

  • Lead the adoption and responsible use of artificial intelligence tools within the finance function and support broader AI adoption across US agency operations.
    • Lead responsible AI adoption
    • Improve financial analytics and forecasting
    • Ensure governance and data protection
    • Support training and adoption across agencies

QUALIFICATIONS

Essential

  • Bachelor’s degree in Finance, Accounting, or related field.
  • CPA or equivalent professional designation preferred.
  • Extensive senior finance leadership experience within professional services environments (agency, consulting, communications, legal, or similar).
  • Strong knowledge of US GAAP, financial controls, taxation, and audit processes.
  • Experience managing complex, multi-entity financial reporting environments.
  • Advanced financial modeling and Excel skills.
  • Experience working with modern ERP or financial systems.
  • Demonstrated ability to translate financial data into actionable business insights.
  • Strong executive stakeholder management skills.

Preferred

  • Experience working within private equity-backed or holding company structures.
  • Experience supporting global or multi-country finance operations.
  • Experience leading finance transformation or system implementation initiatives.
  • Experience supporting employee benefit plan governance including 401(k) compliance and audits.

Key Competencies

  • Strong commercial acumen and analytical mindset.
  • Strategic thinker with the ability to operate at both executive and operational levels.
  • High integrity, discretion, and commitment to financial governance.
  • Excellent communication and presentation skills.
  • Collaborative leadership style with the ability to influence across agency brands and corporate leadership.
  • Comfortable operating in fast-paced, deadline-driven environment 

*Minimal travel required. 

#LI-Hybrid 

US salary range

$120,000 - $180,000 USD

Padilla is a full-service agency that transforms brands and organizations through strategically creative communications. Our work across a range of industry sectors is consistently recognized by the PRWeek Awards, PRovoke IN2 SABRE Awards and PRSA Anvil Awards, among others. Padilla operates in seven cities in the U.S. through its family of brands, which includes SHIFT (performance communications), FoodMinds (food and nutrition affairs) and Joe Smith (brand strategy). As an AVENIR GLOBAL company and a founding member of the Worldcom Public Relations Group, the agency provides services to clients through 155 offices worldwide. Transform with purpose at PadillaCo.com.   

 

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